House sends Hegseth impeachment measure to Judiciary

The House voted 211-204 Tuesday to refer Rep. Thomas Massie’s resolution seeking to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to the Judiciary Committee, shelving an immediate vote on its eight articles. Rep. Darrell Issa, a California Republican, moved to refer the measure after one hour of debate; the House Clerk recorded the motion as agreed to by a recorded vote.[1][2][3][1][2][3]

The House sent the resolution to Judiciary; it did not vote on the impeachment articles. The Clerk identifies the measure as H. Res. 1655 and records the referral at 6:02 p.m. Eastern. Massie was the only Republican to vote against referral, according to the roll call.[1][2][1][2]

Massie, a Kentucky Republican who lost his primary earlier this year, filed eight articles accusing Hegseth of misconduct. The resolution centers on the Iran war, military operations in Yemen and Venezuela, lethal strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats, civilian protections and Hegseth’s response to Sen. Mark Kelly’s speech.[3][4][3][4]

On Iran, Massie alleges Hegseth directed U.S. forces into hostilities without congressional authorization and continued military action after both chambers passed H. Con. Res. 86. The House passed the concurrent resolution on June 3 and the Senate agreed to it on June 23. Its enrolled text directs the president to remove forces from Iran hostilities under the War Powers Resolution, subject to stated exceptions and absent specific congressional authorization.[4][5][6][4][6][7]

The filing also cites reported cuts to Pentagon staff and resources for reducing civilian harm that preceded a U.S. missile strike on an Iranian primary school, where up to 168 people were killed, AP reported. The school strike is among the allegations Massie included in support of impeachment.[3][4][3][4]

The resolution accuses Hegseth of authorizing extrajudicial killings during strikes on suspected drug boats and failing to rescue survivors. It says he retaliated against Kelly, an Arizona Democrat and retired Navy pilot, after Kelly joined other lawmakers in a video reminding military personnel they must refuse illegal orders. Kelly’s dispute with the Pentagon is being litigated, AP reported.[3][4][3][4]

Hegseth has rejected the accusations as a political spectacle over policy disagreements and said the military operations were lawful. President Donald Trump praised his defense, while Vice President JD Vance called the impeachment effort a substitute for policymaking, AP reported.[3][3]

House Speaker Mike Johnson had predicted Republicans would defeat the effort. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries backed impeachment and called Hegseth an architect of the Iran war, AP reported. The House vote sent the resolution to committee instead.[3][3]

The referral followed an earlier attempt to force a vote in September, when Speaker Mike Johnson sent lawmakers into recess before the measure came up. Massie reintroduced articles after the midterm elections, arguing Republicans should act before Democrats take control in January, The Atlantic reported.[8][8]

Only two Cabinet secretaries have previously been impeached: William Belknap in 1876 and Alejandro Mayorkas in 2024. The Senate acquitted Belknap and dismissed Mayorkas’ charges before a trial, AP reported. Tuesday’s House action did not add Hegseth to that list.[3][8][3][8]

The measure now goes to Judiciary, but the Clerk’s record does not say when the committee will act. If the House does not impeach Hegseth before the 119th Congress ends on Jan. 3, the current resolution expires and a new member would need to introduce another. Reuters reported that if the House approves impeachment before then, the Senate could hold a trial in the next Congress. Massie is leaving office after losing his primary.[1][3][7][1][3][5]

A House impeachment vote would require a separate majority. The Senate would then need a two-thirds majority to convict and remove Hegseth, AP reported.[3][3]